Device for fixing pieces of joinery to concrete panels

ABSTRACT

A device for fixing pieces of joinery to concrete panels, including a tubular member adapted for being embedded in the panel and having two bevelled opening ends, one of said ends opening on the face of the pannel, which supports the piece of joinery, whereas other end opens on the side face of the panel, and an anchoring member at right angles with the said supporting face. The tubular member lodges a securing screw.

United States Patent 1191" Cennerelli 1 Mar. 19, 1974 DEVICE FOR FIXING PIECES OF JOINERY TO CONCRETE PANELS [76] inventor: Giuseppe Cennerelli, 8 Cite Jean Gremillon, 93 Bobig'ny, France [22] Filed: Jan.6,'l972 21 Appl; No.; 215,840

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 6, 1971 France... 71.00231 52 u.s.c1 ..52/375,'52/2l3,52/596, .52/699 51 1111.0. ..E04b 1/41 581 Field of Search 52/213, 254, 367, 372, 52/699, 701, 704, 483, 364, 375; 151/4175;

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Brooks 52/375 X 2.941235 6/1960 Schwartz et a1. 151/4175 2,176,450 10/1939 Barnett 52/704 X 3,574,984 4/1971 Chap 52/699 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 122,944 0/1899 Germany 52/213 3,144 2/1889 Great Britain '52/372 Primary Ex'laminerfAlfred C. Perham Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William Anthony Drucker 57] 2 I ABSTRACT A device for fixing pieces of joinery to concrete panels, including a tubular member adapted for being embedded in the panel and having two bevelled opening ends, one of said ends opening on the face of the pannel, which supports the piece of joinery, whereas other end opens on the side face of the panel, and an anchoring member at right angles with the said support- 1 ing face. The tubularmember lodges a securing screw.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR FIXING PIECES OF JOINERY TO CONCRETE PANELS This invention relates to a device designed to facilitate the fixing of joiners work such as frames, inside partition panels and the like, on to units made of comparatively hard material into which scre'wing is difficult or impossible, e.g., prefabricated building panels.

In the construction of buildings for various purposes, such as dwelling-houses, offices, industrial premises, etc., by prefabricating panels in a workshop and assembling them on the building site, the placing of frame units for inside or outside doors and windows, or else the uprights supporting light partitioning, cupboards, etc., is at present comparatively costly.

In accordance with known techniques, provision is made for positioning and fixing frame units and the like, usually made of wood, on to the prefabricated panels, by fitting inserts in various places during prefabrication of the panel, e.g., made of concrete, inserts consisting of units specially designed to take and hold the fixing screws for the frames. These inserts, embed- (led in the panel and positioned in the edge of the panel, with which they are flush, can consist of wooden blocks or metal bushings.

The carpenter, when the frame units, such as door jambs or window uprights, are installed, consequently has to set up the frame unit to be positioned, take the measurements or make the marks necessary to enable the frame unit to be drilled and worked at the appropriate place opposite the insert in the panel, then position and fix the frame unit by screwing into the insert in the edge of the panel.

This traditional method of fixing is lengthy and costly; moreover, it leaves the head of the screw showing and liable to rust, which is a disadvantage from an aesthetic point of view. I

The device in accordance with the invention enables these disadvantages to be overcome and covers a speedy, safe and aesthetically pleasing method of fixing frame units or the like on to panels or walls made of comparatively hard material.

The device covered by the invention comprises a tu- This tubular component can also take a screw going through it from the side face of the panel and protruding from the edge of the panel to penetrate into the body of the frame unit to be fixed on to the edge of the panel. I I

The invention also relates to a component for fixing frame units and the like, designed to be screwed on to the edge of a panel or supporting wall made of comparatively hard material, characterised by a tubular channel which can be inserted into the corner formed by the side edge of the panel, one end giving on to'the edge of the panel and the other end giving on to the side face of the panel near the edge.

Preferably, the tubular component has both ends bevelled, the planes of the said ends being at right angles to each other so that, when positioned within the panel and in the corner of the edge which is to take the frame unit, the ends of the tubular component are respectively flush with the edge of the panel and with the side face of the panel.

Preferably, the tubular component comprises a shoulder or contraction at one end suitable to provide a purchase for the head of the fixing screw.

It is to be understood that the tubular insert in accor dance with the invention is positioned in the corner formed by the side edge of the wall when the latter is built and thus enables the carpenter to screw a frame unit on to the edge of the wall by means of a screw inserted in the channel from the aperture in the side face of the wall close to the bottom edge.

The invention also covers a wall panel or unit made by prefabrication and comprising tubular components as defined above in various places.

It is plain that, by means of a device of this kind, the screw inserted through the side face of the panel infallibly penetrates from the edge of the panel into the core of the frame unit to be fixed, without the need for any prior adjustment and preparatory work.

Moreover, the head of the screw, which penetrates from the side face of the panel, is then covered by the finishing coats.

In a preferred form of embodiment of the invention, particularly well suited to theapplication of the latter to the manufacture of prefabricated panels, the device comprises, in association with the tubular component, a holding component which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the said first end, this holding component comprising an inside housing suitable to take a screw fixing the whole of the device on to the wall of the mould during manufacture of the panel.

Preferably, the tubular component and the holding component are directly joined forming an angle at the said first end and are connected at the opposite end by a small bar.

Finally, the invention relates inparticular to a device made of moulded plastic and designed to be embedded in a prefabricated panel made of comparatively hard .material for subsequent fixing of a frame unit on to the edge of the panel, characterised in that it comprises a first channel the ends of which are bevelled, the planes of these ends being at right angles and giving on to the edge of the panel on the one hand and on to the edge of the corresponding side face on the other hand, and a second blind channel having an opening in common with the first channel and extending perpendicularly to the plane of this common opening, the far ends of the two channels being connected by a small bar.

It is to be understood that the above-mentioned plastic device can be positioned in a mould for prefabricating a panel, a screw penetrating through the wall of the mould into the blind channel and removably fixing the device during the casting of the concrete or other material for the making of the panel, the opening of the first channel resting on the bottom of the mould corresponding to the side face of the panel.

Optionally, the openings can be filled with grease or a similar substance to prevent the concretefrom pene trating into them when it is poured into the mould. Devices in accordance with the invention can also be provided on both faces and positioned with one opening of the channel directed upwards and coming flush with the surface after having been filled with grease to prevent it from being blocked with concrete on the top surface of the concrete casting.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the specification hereunder.

In the attached drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view ofa fixing device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line Il-ll in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a view from below of the device.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a mould for making a prefabricated panel, showing the device in accordance with the invention inserted in the panel during manufacture.

FIG. 5 is a view of the end of a hard panel comprising the device in accordance with the invention and showing the use of the latter for the fixing of a wooden unit.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show that the device in accordance with the invention is made up of a one-piece unit made of moulded plastic comprising two channels, i.e., a primary channel 1 used to house the fixing screw; this channel comprises an opening 2 the edge of which is bevelled in relation to the axis of the channel; the edge of the opposite opening 3 also being bevelled; the two sectional planes of the openings 2 and 3 being at right angles.

The device comprises a second perforated cylindrical unit 4 containing the blind channel 5 giving on one side on to the opening 3; the opening 3 is common to channels 5 and l. The two units are connected by a small bar 6. In this preferred embodiment, the two units and their connecting bar provide especially efficient anchoring of the device in the panel.

When a panel is cast (FIG. 4), the fixing device 7 is inserted in a corner of the mould 8 so that the opening 2 rests on the bottom 9 of the mould; this can be sealed against the wet concrete by covering it with a substance such as grease or the like.

Moreover, the device 7 is fixed in position by a screw 10 the head 11 of which projects outside the mould and the body of which penetrates into the channel 5 specially designed to take this fixing screw during the casting of the panel; thus the unit 7 is firmly held in position during the casting of the concrete 12 and there is no risk of its being moved by the thrust of the concrete.

After removing the panel from the mould, the device 7 is embedded in the mass of the panel, as shown in FIG. 5, with the opening 3 flush with the edge 13 of the panel while the opening 2 comes flush with the surface close to the bottom edge of the panel.

A frame unit, e.g., a wooden upright 14, can thus be fitted against the edge 13 of the panel and it is then sufficient for the user to insert a screw 15 into the channel 1 to make it come out through the opening 3 and penetrate into the upright 14, fixing the latter to the edge of the panel 13; it should be noted that a shoulder 17 positioned at the entrance to the channel 1, provides a purchase for the head 16 of the screw.

It goes without saying that the foregoing specification is by no means limitative. One of the units to be assembled could be made of plastic, metal or any other material allowing a screw to be inserted, while the other unit could be made of masonry, concrete or any other comparatively hard material.-

I claim:

1. A device for positioning and fixing, on a panel unit of hard material. another unit adapted to be attached thereto, said device comprising first and second mutually connected tubular components each having one end abutting a common plane, the second tubular component having an axis of reference at right angles to said common plane, and being a blind channel along said axis of reference, the first component being diagonally arranged with respect to the second component and having first and second openings respectively arranged in said common plane and in a further plane at right angles thereto.

2. A device for positioning and fixing on a plane face of a first unit of hard material cast in a mould, a second unit adapted to be nailed or screwed onto the said face of the latter, said device to be embedded entirely in the first unit, said device consisting essentially of first and second tubular components having substantially the same diameter and mutually connected at one end abutting on a common plane which is to be part of the said plane face of purchase for said second unit, said second tubular component having an axis of reference such that it intersects at right angles with said common plane, the longitudinal axis of said first tubular component intersecting with said common plane in essentially a point common with the reference axis of said second component, the first tubular component being thus arranged diagonally so that its first opening lies within said common plane, its second opening lying within a plane situated at right angles with said common plane and foreseen to lie within the plane of a side face of said first unit perpendicular to said common plane, this second opening permitting the introduction of a fixing means such as nails, screws or the like, for fixing said second unit onto said first unit.. I

3. A device for positioning and fixing on a plane face of a first unit of hard material cast in a mould, a second unit adapted to be nailed or screwed onto the said face of the latter, said device to be embedded entirely in the first unit, said device consisting essentially of first and second tubular components having substantially the same diameter and mutually connected at one end abutting on a common plane which is to be part of the said plane face of purchase for said second unit, said second tubular component having an axis of reference such that it intersects at right angles with said common plane, the longitudinal axis of said first tubular component intersecting with said common plane in essentially a point common with the reference axis of said second component, the first tubular component being thus arranged diagonally so that its first opening lies within said common plane, its second opening lying within a plane situated at right angles with said common plane and foreseen to lie within the plane of a side face of said first unit perpendicular to said common plane, this second opening permitting the introduction of a fixing means such as nails, screws, or the like, for fixing said second unit onto said first unit, said first and second openings of said first tubular component being bevelled, the planes of said ends being at right angles with one another so that, when said device is positioned inside said first unit, the ends of said first component are respectively flush with the said side surface and the edge of said first unit constituting the plane of purchase for said second unit.

4. A device for positioning and fixing on a plane face of a first unit of hard material cast in a mould, a second unit adapted to be nailed or screwed onto the said face of the latter, said device to be embedded entirely in the first unit, said device consisting essentially of first and second tubular components having substantially the same diameter and mutually connected at one end abutting on a common plane which is to be part of the said plane face of purchase for said second unit, said second tubular component having an axis of reference such that it intersects at right angles with said common plane, the longitudinal axis of said first tubular component intersecting with said common plane in essentially a point common with the reference axis of said second component, the first tubular component being thus arranged diagonally so that its first opening lies within said common plane, its second opening lying within a plane situated at right angles with said common plane and foreseen to lie within the plane of a side face of said first unit perpendicular to said common plane, this second opening permitting the introduction of a fixing means such as nails, screws or the like, for fixing said second unit onto said first unit, said first and second openings of said first tubular component being bevelled, the planes of said ends being at right angles with one another so that, when said device is positioned inside said first unit, the ends of said first component are respectively flush with the said side surface and the edge of said first unit constituting the plane of purchase for said second unit, said second opening of said first tubular component being provided with a concentric internal shoulder or contraction adapted to form a bearing for the head of said fixing means for said second unit.

5. A device for positioning and fixing on a plane face of a first unit of hard material cast in a mould, a second unit adapted to be nailed or screwed onto the said face of the latter, said device to be embedded entirely in the first unit, said device consisting essentially of first and second tubular components having substantially the same diameter and mutually connected at one end abutting on a common plane which is to be part of the said plane face of purchase for said second unit, said second tubular component having an axis of reference such that it intersects at rightangles with said common plane, the longitudinal axis of said first tubular component intersecting with said common plane in essentially a point common with the reference axis of said'second component, the first tubular component being thus arranged diagonally so that its first opening lies within said common plane, its second opening lying within a plane situated at right angleswith said common plane and foreseen to lie within the-plane of a side face of said first unit perpendicular to said common plane, this second opening permitting the introduction of a fixing means such as nails, screws or the like, for fixing said second unit onto said first unit, said first and second openings of said first tubular component being bevelled, the planes of said ends being at right angles with one another so that, when said device is positioned inside said first unit, the ends of said first component are respectively flush with the said side surface and the edge of said first unit constituting the plane of purchase for said second unit, said second opening of said first tubular component being provided with a concentric internal shoulder or contraction adapted to form a bearing for the head of said fixing means for said second unit, said first and second tubular components being connected with one another by means of a small bar at their two ends forming an angle with one another and being remote from said common plane,'the external diameter of the second tubular component increasing towards its end remote from said common plane,

thus forming a conical flare for anchoring said device within the first unit, said second tubular component comprising a blind inside housing whose opening coincides substantially with said first opening of said first tubular component.

6. A prefabricated panel or wall'unit including at least one device for positioning and fixing on a plane face of a first unit of hard material cast in a mould, a second unit adapted to be nailed or screwed onto the said face of the latter, said device to be embedded entirely in the first unit, said device consisting essentially of first and second tubular components having substantially the same diameter and mutually connected at one end abutting on a common plane which is to be part of the said plane face of purchase for said second unit, said second tubular component having an axis of reference such that it intersects at right angles with said common plane, the longitudinal axis of said first tubular component intersecting with said common plane in essentially a point common with the reference axis of said second component, the first tubular component being thus arranged diagonally so that its first opening lies within said common plane, its second opening lying within a plane situated at right angles with said common plane and foreseen to lie within the plane of a side face of said first unit perpendicular to said common plane, this second opening permitting the introduction of a fixing means such as nails, screws or the like, for

fixing said second unit onto said first unit. 

1. A device for positioning and fixing, on a panel unit of hard material, another unit adapted to be attached thereto, said device comprising first and second mutually connected tubular components each having one end abutting a common plane, the second tubular component having an axis of reference at right angles to said common plane, and being a blind channel along said axis of reference, the first component being diagonally arranged with respect to the second component and having first and second openings respectively arranged in said common plane and in a further plane at right angles thereto.
 2. A device for positioning and fixing on a plane face of a first unit of hard material cast in a mould, a second unit adapted to be nailed or screwed onto the said face of the latter, said device to be embedded entirely in the first unit, said device consisting essentially of first and second tubular components having substantially the same diameter and mutually connected at one end abutting on a common plane which is to be part of the said plane face of purchase for said second unit, said second tubular component having an axis of reference such that it intersects at right angles with said common plane, the longitudinal axis of said first tubular component intersecting with said common plane in essentially a point common with the reference axis of said second component, the first tubular component being thus arranged diagonally so that its first opening lies within said common plane, its second opening lying within a plane situated at right angles with said common plane and foreseen to lie within the plane of a side face of said first unit perpendicular to said common plane, this second opening permitting the introduction of a fixing means such as nails, screws or the like, for fixing said second unit onto said first unit.
 3. A device for positioning and fixing on a plane face of a first unit of hard material cast in a mould, a second unit adapted to be nailed or screwed onto the said face of the latter, said device to be embedded entirely in the first unit, said device consisting essentially of first and second tubular components having substantially the same diameter and mutually connected at one end abutting on a common plane which is to be part of the said plane face of purchase for said second unit, said second tubular component having an axis of reference such that it intersects at right angles with said common plane, the longitudinal axis of said first tubular component intersecting with said common plane in essentially a point common with the reference axis of said second component, the first tubular component being thus arranged diagonally so that its first opening lies within said common plane, its second opening lying within a plane situated at right angles with said common plane and foreseen to lie within the plane of a side face of said first unit perpendicular to said common plane, this second opening permitting the introduction of a fixing means such as nails, screws, or the like, for fixing said second unit onto said first unit, said first and second openings of said first tubular component being bevelled, the planes of said ends being at right angles with one another so that, when said device is positioned inside said first unit, the ends of said first component are respectively flush with the said side surface and the edge of said first unit constituting the plane of purchase for said second unit.
 4. A device for positioning and fixing on a plane face of a first unit of hard material cast in a mould, a second unit adapted to be nailed or screwed onto the said face of the latter, said device to be embedded entirely in the first unit, said device consisting essentially of first and second tubular components having substantially the same diameter and mutually connected at one end abutting on a common plane which is to be part of the said plane face of purchase for said second unit, said second tubular component having an axis of reference such that it intersects at right angles with said common plane, the longitudinal axis of said first tubular component intersecting with said common plane in essentially a point common with the reference axis of said second component, the first tubular component being thus arranged diagonally so that its first opening lies within said common plane, its second opening lying within a plane situated at right angles with said common plane and foreseen to lie within the plane of a side face of said first unit perpendicular to said common plane, this second opening permitting the introduction of a fixing means such as nails, screws or the like, for fixing said second unit onto said first unit, said first and second openings of said first tubular component being bevelled, the planes of said ends being at right angles with one another so that, when said device is positioned inside said first unit, the ends of said first component are respectively flush with the said side surface and the edge of said first unit constituting the plane of purchase for said second unit, said second opening of said first tubular component being provIded with a concentric internal shoulder or contraction adapted to form a bearing for the head of said fixing means for said second unit.
 5. A device for positioning and fixing on a plane face of a first unit of hard material cast in a mould, a second unit adapted to be nailed or screwed onto the said face of the latter, said device to be embedded entirely in the first unit, said device consisting essentially of first and second tubular components having substantially the same diameter and mutually connected at one end abutting on a common plane which is to be part of the said plane face of purchase for said second unit, said second tubular component having an axis of reference such that it intersects at right angles with said common plane, the longitudinal axis of said first tubular component intersecting with said common plane in essentially a point common with the reference axis of said second component, the first tubular component being thus arranged diagonally so that its first opening lies within said common plane, its second opening lying within a plane situated at right angles with said common plane and foreseen to lie within the plane of a side face of said first unit perpendicular to said common plane, this second opening permitting the introduction of a fixing means such as nails, screws or the like, for fixing said second unit onto said first unit, said first and second openings of said first tubular component being bevelled, the planes of said ends being at right angles with one another so that, when said device is positioned inside said first unit, the ends of said first component are respectively flush with the said side surface and the edge of said first unit constituting the plane of purchase for said second unit, said second opening of said first tubular component being provided with a concentric internal shoulder or contraction adapted to form a bearing for the head of said fixing means for said second unit, said first and second tubular components being connected with one another by means of a small bar at their two ends forming an angle with one another and being remote from said common plane, the external diameter of the second tubular component increasing towards its end remote from said common plane, thus forming a conical flare for anchoring said device within the first unit, said second tubular component comprising a blind inside housing whose opening coincides substantially with said first opening of said first tubular component.
 6. A prefabricated panel or wall unit including at least one device for positioning and fixing on a plane face of a first unit of hard material cast in a mould, a second unit adapted to be nailed or screwed onto the said face of the latter, said device to be embedded entirely in the first unit, said device consisting essentially of first and second tubular components having substantially the same diameter and mutually connected at one end abutting on a common plane which is to be part of the said plane face of purchase for said second unit, said second tubular component having an axis of reference such that it intersects at right angles with said common plane, the longitudinal axis of said first tubular component intersecting with said common plane in essentially a point common with the reference axis of said second component, the first tubular component being thus arranged diagonally so that its first opening lies within said common plane, its second opening lying within a plane situated at right angles with said common plane and foreseen to lie within the plane of a side face of said first unit perpendicular to said common plane, this second opening permitting the introduction of a fixing means such as nails, screws or the like, for fixing said second unit onto said first unit. 